For the youngsters just as the pros, a long season delivered its final verdict at the arrival of spring. Already focussed on next season, the Academy Director, Alain Wathelet, looks back on the past season for the Red and Black Academy. 

Overall impression

"It is a satisfying season, without any glorious achievements in terms of results, but with players who played up with the pros regularly, which is essential. Malang (Sarr) showed his qualities, Vincent (Marcel) did too, Hicham (Mahou) arrived at the end, Romain (Perraud) signed his pro contract... The real positive from the season is when you look at the 97 generation, those who are coming "to the end of the cycle with the Academy". It was a bit difficult to begin with, even if Boscagli was thrown in early, and at the end, Marcel and Perraud arrived, just as was the case with Yannis Clémentia, who proved decisive with the CFA, and should be the first team's 3rd choice keeper next season. That proves that the Academy works. When we look back, what interests us are the players who go out and the way they came into the Academy. Sarr and Mahou came all the way from young, which will often be the case in the coming generations. That means that what we have been doing for 10 years is beginning to pay off..."

CFA: "A relief"

"It's the squad which had the most difficult season. We started more or less correctly, because we had quite a few pros, that later on were loaned out. With the Europa League, and the back-to-back games, lots of elements came into play and at the end of autumn, the squad was lining up extremely youthfully. We struggled a bit and we slipped into last place. In December, we had a 6 points deficit on the side that sat above the relegation zone. We were already in CFA2, everybody had already written us off. A relegation dogfight was underway, and we brought in a senior player to sure up the dressing room, a leader of men (Mehdi Messaoudi).

The pros - Bosetti, Marcel, Lusamba, Lloris, Boscagli - played well, which gave confidence to the youngsters and allowed us to have a second half to the season worthy of a top side. We stayed up and it's a huge relief because, with the reworking of the leagues, we would have fallen into a very difficult N3 group and that would have been more difficult for the Academy. For the youngsters, it's good to not have dropped down. Especially, given that 99 generation, who will make up the large part of this squad, deserve to be at this level and need it to be able to become a top pro."

2017/18 training recommences: Monday 10 July

U19: "Some real training"

"What was very good, is that we didn't suffer like last year. The generation with the 99s held on well, so we didn't need to draft in the "heavies" to earn points. We even made some 2000 and 2001 boys play, which is great. We were able to do some real training. The objective of the Academy is for the teams not to get relegated, everything else is a bonus. If you win the Gambard', fantastic, if you are champions too, but it isn't the case, and it's not a problem because when you look at it, these are youngsters that are becoming professionals.

Next season, if we put all of the 99 generation together in U19s, Malang Sarr and Hicham Mahou included, I think we could win the league. Only that, it would be to the detriment of Malang, Hicham, they youngsters and above all, the club. Those that can, should play up, the opposite situation would be ridiculous. So all in all, it was a good season for the U19s. And as for results, the squad finished mid-table, knocked Monaco out in the Gambardella before being defeated by Metz on penalties (in the Round of 8). Whilst at the same time, beating Montpellier, the winner, in the league. We don't know yet, but maybe the U19s will be able to play in the Youth League next season if, all being well, we qualify for the Champions League. That would be something quite extraordinary..."

2017/18 training recommences: Monday 17 July

U17: "A very strong generation"

"This year was very interesting, because very often, between 8 and 9 first years (2001) have been starters. We had never done that before. it was maximum half and half. They finished mid-table, but with so many youngsters, it's normal, and we say to ourselves that this generation is very strong, even if not all of them will finish off with a pro contract. The proof, we had 17 to begin with and at the end of the season, we only let one go.

In that sense, it's the same, there are many players in the early years, beginning with the two who are with the national side (Evann Guessand and Lamine Diaby) who have the most potential at the moment, just like Teddy Boulhendi, arriving at 16 years old from the centre of excellence. The 2001s have played a lot, now they need to confirm what they can do. We are expecting a lot of them. Even though the better players will train with the U19s and will play with them if they manage to win their place - there is still potential for the U17s to have a good season and aim for at least the podium."

2017/18 training recommences: Monday 24 July

C.D.

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